McDermott steps down as USA boss

Leeds boss Brian McDermott has stepped down as head coach of the United States national team.

The 48-year-old former Bradford and Great Britain forward has combined the Hawks role with his day job at the Rhinos for the last three years but has told the USRL that he does not wish to continue in the job.

McDermott was appointed by the USRL in the summer of 2015 and successfully guided the Hawks through the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers with victories over Jamaica and Canada.

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott. (Image: PA)

The Hawks were the rank outsiders going into the tournament Down Under last October and duly lost all three group matches against Fiji, Italy and Papua New Guinea.

McDermott's men conceded 168 points and scored just 12, all against the Fijians, but it was no real surprise following the decision of the selectors to choose a largely domestic team rather than opting to bolster the squad with NRL-qualified Americans in order to encourage the development of more local players.